The Right Path Part 28

Morgan awoke as a soft knock sounded at her door. The smal maid peeked inside. "Your pardon, kyrios, a phone cal from Athens."

"Oh ... thank you, Zena, I'l be right there." Rising quickly, Morgan hurried to the phone in Liz's sitting room, belting her robe as she went. "Hel o?"

"Morgan, did I wake you? It's past ten."

"Liz?" Morgan tried to shake away the cobwebs. It had been dawn before she had slept. "Do you know anyone else in Athens?"

"I'm a bit groggy." Morgan yawned, then smiled with memories. "I went for a late-night swim. It was wonderful."

"You sound very smug," Liz mused. "We'l have to discuss it later. Morgan, I feel terrible about it, but I'm going to have to stay here until tomorrow. The doctors are hopeful, but Iona's stil in a coma. I can't leave Alex to cope with his family and everything else alone."

"Please, don't worry about me. I'm sorry, Liz. I know it's difficult for both of you." She thought of Iona's involvement in the smuggling and felt a fresh wave of pity. "How is Alex holding up? He seemed so devastated when he left here."

"It would be easier if the whole family didn't look to him for answers. Oh, Morgan, it's so ugly." Strain tightened her voice and Morgan heard her take a deep breath to control it. "I don't know how Iona's mother wil handle it if she dies. And suicide-it just makes it harder."

Morgan swal owed the words she wanted to say. Nick had spoken to her in confidence; she couldn't betray it even for Liz. "You said the doctors are hopeful."

"Yes, her vital signs are leveling, but-" "What about Dorian, Liz? Is he al right?"

"Barely." Morgan heard Liz sigh again. "I don't know how I could have been so blind not to see how he felt about her. He's hardly left her bedside. If Alex hadn't bul ied him, I think he might have slept in the chair beside her last night instead of going home. From the way he looks this morning, I don't think he got any sleep anyway."

"Please give him my best-and Alex, too." On a long frustrated breath she sat down. "Liz, I feel so helpless." She thought of smuggling, attempted murder and shut her eyes. "I wish there were something I could do for you."

"Just be there when I get back." Though her tone lightened, Morgan recognized the effort. "Enjoy the beach for me, look for your goatherd. If you're going to take moonlight swims, you should have some company for them." When Morgan was silent Liz continued slowly. "Or did you?"

"Wel , actual y ..." Smiling, Morgan trailed off.

"Tel me, have you settled on a goatherd or a poet?" "Neither."

"It must be Nick then," Liz concluded. "Imagine that-al I had to do was invite him to dinner."

Morgan lifted a brow and found herself grinning. "I don't know what you're talking about." Life was everywhere, she remembered, if you only knew where to look.

"Mmm-hmmm. We'l talk about it tomorrow. Have fun. The number's there if you need me for anything. Oh, there's some marvelous wine in the cel ar," she added, and for the first time, the smile in her voice seemed genuine. "If you feel like a cozy evening-help yourself."

"I appreciate it, Liz, but-"

"And don't worry about me or any of us. Everything's going to be fine. I just know it. Give Nick my love." "I wil ," Morgan heard herself saying. "I thought so. See you tomorrow." Smiling, Morgan replaced the receiver.

"And so," Stephanos finished, lovingly stroking his moustache, "after several gla.s.ses of ouzo, Mikal became more expansive. The last two dates he gave me when our man joined the fis.h.i.+ng expedition were the last week in February and the second week in March. That doesn't include the evening we encountered Morgan James, or when you took the trip in his stead."

Smiling, Nick flipped through the reports on his desk. "And from the end of February to the first week of April, he was in Rome. Even without my stroke of luck last night, that would have ruled him out. With the phone cal I just got from Athens, I'd say we've eliminated him altogether from having any part in this.

Now we know our man works alone. We move."

"And you move with an easy heart?" Stephanos noted. "What did Athens say?"

"The investigation on that end is complete. He's clean. His books, his records, his phone cal s and correspondence. From this end, we know he hasn't been on the island to take part in any of the runs." Nick leaned back in his chair. "I have no doubt that since our man learned of the loss of his last s.h.i.+pment, he'l make the trip tonight. He won't want another to slip through his fingers." He tapped idly on the papers which littered his desk. "Now that I have the information I've been waiting for, we won't keep Athens waiting any longer. We'l have him tonight."

"You were out very late last night," Stephanos commented, taking out an ugly pipe and fil ing it.

"Keeping tabs on me, Stephanos?" Nick inquired with a lift of brow. "I haven't been twelve for a very long time."

"You are in very good humor this morning." He continued to fil his pipe, tapping the tobacco with patient care. "You haven't been so for many days." "You should be glad my mood's broken. But then, you're used to my moods, aren't you, old man?"

Stephanos shrugged in agreement or acceptance. "The American lady is fond of walking on the beach. Perhaps you encountered her last night?" "You're becoming entirely too wise in your old age, Stephanos." Nick struck a match and held it over the bowl of the pipe.

"Not too old to recognize the look of a man satisfied with a night of pleasure,"

Stephanos commented mildly and sucked to get flame. "A very beautiful lady.

Very strong."

Lighting a cigarette, Nick smiled at him. "So you've mentioned before. I'd noticed myself. Tel me, Stephanos, are you also not too old to have ideas about strong, beautiful ladies?"

Stephanos cackled. "Only the dead have no ideas about strong, beautiful ladies, Nicholas. I'm a long way from dead." Nick flashed him a grin. "Keep your distance, old man. She's mine."

"She is in love with you."

The cigarette halted on its journey to Nick's lips. His smiled faded. Stephanos stood grinning broadly as he was pierced with one of his friend's, lancing looks.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it is true, I've seen it." He puffed enjoyably on his pipe. "It is often difficult to see what is standing before your eyes. How much longer is she alone?"

Nick brought his thoughts back and scowled at the papers on his desk. "I'm not certain. Another day or so at least, depending on Iona's condition. In love with me," he murmured and looked back at Stephanos.

He knew she was attracted, that she cared-perhaps too much for her own good.

But in love with him ... He'd never al owed himself to consider the possibility.

"She wil be alone tonight," Stephanos continued blandly, appreciating Nick's stunned look. "It wouldn't do for her to wander from the vil a." He puffed a few moments in silence. "If al does not go smoothly, you would want her safely behind locked doors."

"I've already spoken to her. She understands enough to listen and take care." Nick shook his head. Today of al days he had to think clearly. "I t's time we invited Captain Tripolos in. Cal Mitilini."

Morgan enjoyed a late breakfast on the terrace and toyed with the idea of walking to the beach. He might come, she thought. I could phone and ask him to come.

No, she decided, nibbling on her lip as she remembered al he had told her. If tonight is as important as he thinks, he needs to be left alone. I wish I knew more.

I wish I knew what he was going to do. What if he gets hurt or ... Morgan clamped down on the thought and wished it were tomorrow.

"Kyrios." At the maid's quiet summons, Morgan gasped and spun. "The captain from Mitilini is here to speak with you."

"What?" Panic rose and Morgan swal owed it. If Nick had spoken to him, Tripolos would hardly be waiting to see her, she thought frantical y. Perhaps Nick wasn't ready yet. What could Tripolos possibly want with her?

"Tel him I'm out," she decided quickly. "Tel him I've gone to the beach or the vil age."

"Very good, kyrios." The maid accepted her order without question, then watched as Morgan streaked from the terrace.

For the second time, Morgan climbed the steep cliff path. This time, she knew where she was going. She could see Tripolos's official car parked at the vil a's entrance as she rounded the first bend. She increased her pace, running until she was certain she herself was out of view.

Her approach had been noticed, however. The wide doors of Nick's vil a opened before she reached the top step. Nick came out to meet her. "Yiasou. You must be in amazing shape to take the hil at that speed."

"Very funny," she panted as she ran into his arms.

"Is it that you couldn't keep away from me or is something wrong?" He held her close a moment, then drew her back just far enough to see her face. It was flushed with the run, but there was no fear in her eyes.

"Tripolos is at the vil a." Morgan pressed her hand to her heart and tried to catch her breath. "I slipped out the back because I didn't know what I should say to him. Nicholas, I have to sit down. That's a very steep hil ."

He was searching her face silently. Stil struggling for her breath, Morgan tilted her head and returned the survey. She laughed and pushed the hair from her eyes.

"Nicholas, why are you staring at me like that?"

"I'm trying to see what's standing in front of my eyes."